This is exciting. I feel somewhat like an 8th grader might if he were to be introduced not to a new medium, but rather a new way of interacting with it.
Quotes, thoughts, responses, etc. in no particular order:
"The guiding metaphor for schools in our society is the idea of education as industrial production. As an alternative to this metaphor (Marshall) proposed substituting the concept of school as a "learning place." This would entail several dramatic changes, such as setting goals that focus on the acquisition of knowledge and skills by the learner for intrinsic benefits rather than extrinsic rewards, and changes in authority relations, between teachers and students that are based on expertise and knowledge to be shared or developed and on the desire to help individuals acquire or construct knowledge."
Response: I often find myself telling my students that what we're learning in class will benefit them in a number of ways such as understanding allusions, becoming culturally literate, preparing for more difficult text, etc. While these might be valid, it's a good reminder that the skills and knowledge they acquire should be for intrinsic benefits. Where is the joy of learning, the passion for learning, when it's done for somebody else?
*Also, the text you see in red is what I would otherwise highlight, but can't seem to find a highlight feature on Blogger. However, I'm intrinsically motivated to learn how to manipulate text here for the sole purpose of not having a lame site. After all, I'm sure there will be many visitors.
And now for something completely different.
I appreciated Virginia Malone's piece about the meaning of literacy in today's society. She mentions that our students learn "large quantities of isolated skills and knowledge with the hope that they will be able to apply (them) as adults" but largely learn in the absence of viewing adults participating in more than one or two roles. This reminds me of your claim that we need to revamp our educational system entirely, creating learning places where students of all ages interact and learn together. Somewhat related to Marshall's idea of school as a "learning place" as opposed to a factory.
She continues to discuss the "Products of Effective Workers" and of "Active Citizens" and of "Good Mentor/Parent" and each concludes with the importance of reflection. More specifically, reflection on the importance of internalizing the steps involved in the learning process. Which takes the journal writing in my class to a level where students are purposely trying to understand their thought processes as learners. I'm attempting to understand my thought process as I write this and am realizing the difficulty. I can't remove myself from the position of student with you as the judging authority, my purpose not only to share, but to share something thought-provoking or valid. Interesting. How might this change future writing assignments in my class?
And finally, I sent an email out to my department (all of whom check their mail daily during the summer :) regarding the effects of high-stakes testing on our choice of activities sharing with them that this article (which I attached) serves as a good reminder that our challenge is to create activities that are linked to "knowledge-based" standards as well as "skill-based" standards. I find myself so regularly raging against the machine of standards that I forget it's not an all-or-nothing proposition.
Care to take a stab at how this is all related?
